The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-12-10

lChap, they got MN iuii anu Sofioe'oe
his figures TO suit themselves; II he wa
disposed to be ugly natured, he frequently
ran against distractions In the dark, found
unknown holes TO fall into, and In the dark
often encountered unaccountable shillalah'
swung effectually by unknown and uniden
tlfable hands. One of the tricks Of MIR
Peter ST., was an ingenious lead pipe which
led from a vat In the distillery under the
street into the cellar under his store, by
which cute continuance he could treat him
self and his friends whenever he pleased
unbeknownst TO the gauger and untaxed
by the axciseman!
CHILDHoOps DAYS.
Peter Russell, ST died when Peter, jr, the
subject of this SKETCH was years old The
family then consisted Of Mrs Russell and
two sons and two daughters. Peter was
the second eldest His father had left
fair estate and Mrs. Russell, a lady of:abun'
dant good sense and OF considerable busi-
ness energy, sold out the grocery store and
opened another store dealing In dry goods,
and put such Of her children TO school as
we're old enough. Owing TO the singular
manner In which England has ever treated
the Irish Catholics, since the time OF VIII
liam ILL.,, they have been compelled to pay
taxes to the support Of free schools,-free
only to professionals! The best school then
In all that part Of Ireland was 1.-THE Drog'
heda. Seminary The Russells and sher-
locks had paid heavy taxes for years towards
the building up Of this free school,"
which TO them, like all other freedom
offered by England, was mockery. Young
Peter was sent to this school, which his
fathers money had helped to build and
maintain, and he had to pay heavily for
his tuition, while his playmates who were
protestants went free! There was an aver
age of 10 pupils there, and out OF this
number there we're Catholics, who, like
himself, had to feel the inequality of their
position, for religions sake" The prin-
cIpal was an Episcopal minister; the pro-
lessor of Grammar, a Methodist; but
strange to say, the writing master was a
Catholic. 1t was conducted on sort OF
high school plan, and was really a good
school, but its outrageous charge kept the
poorer Catholics away. He remained
there until he was fifteen years old. He
read Latin there q years, and studied gen.
orally with reference to becoming a physi-
clan.
DOCTORS ASSISTANT.
Having succeeded we'll at school, with
the satisfaction of leaving far behind, In
the educational race, many Of his free class
mates,-he left school and took a place
with DR.. Hogarty, physician and surgeon
Of much skill and a good practice
In Drogheds, and was taken out to as
sist In operations, in cutting, sewing up,
hacking, slashing and saving human anat.
omies. In six months his stomach turned
againt the whole business, and he asked
permanent leave Of absence and got II, and
got cured of further aspirations of being a
doctor.
MANUFACTURER OF CHEMICALS
Next, he was sent to Dublin, to Mr..
John Doyle, an extensive manufactures
of epson salts, sulphuric acid, vinegar, &c,
who was besides an extensive wholesale
grocer In Dublin. This place suited him
better and he remained there two years, be-
coming very expert In the details of the
various branches Of the business.
THE STAR sPANGLED BANNER.
About this time The American fever
broke out with great violence all over Ire
land. English protective tariff laws, In
spired by her jealous trades and manufact-
urers, had made times exceedingly bad In
Ireland Her trade was interdicted with
the whole world and her factories nearly
all forced TO shut down. There was no
help at home, and Free America held wide
open her inviting arms. Free land, home,
employment, wholesome laws--treedom,
were Irresistible. Young Peter thought OF
these things; and when he saw the stars
and stripes floating at the mast head OF a
ship In the harbor, he almost involuntarily
took of his hat In reverence to that proud
and beautiful symbol Of political and re-
llgious liberty. From that moment he
renounced all allegiance to Great Britain.
He felt that he was free and at heart "still
an American Citizen" He determined to
leave at once for the United States, and as
he had an uncle, his fathers only brother,
a wholesale -four dealer In America, at
Philadelphia, he did not feel that though
going to a strange land he would be an en-
tire stranger. He at once wrote his reso-
luton to his mother, While Mrs. Russell
was reading Peters letter, her eldest son
John somehow got an inkling of Its con-
tents and he promptly declared he would
20 too" The two sisters chimed In so
will We" and then Mrs. Russell said: ~
,,tlV LAT ha y,oyo m and laova TO